
CPDA concluded its very successful 2018 Summer Conference & Annual Meeting held July 16-18 at the Omni Chicago Hotel in Chicago, Illinois. The highlight of this year’s program was a comprehensive discussion of the “new” CPDA and the value the organization provides to its members, specifically how Council membership enhances the representation of producers, formulators/distributors, and adjuvant/inert ingredient suppliers on state and federal legislative and regulatory issues specific to each of these market segments.
CPDA Interim President Gary Halvorson began the discussion with an overview of how CPDA is well equipped to provide a collective voice to each of these industry segments in responding to the many complex issues brought about by changes in the marketplace over the past two decades. CPDA Board members Tim Stoehr (Albaugh LLC), Tim Dlabaj (Helena Agri-Enterprises), and Scott Tann (Huntsman Performance Products) shared their thoughts with meeting attendees on how the “new” CPDA is uniquely positioned to advocate on legislative and regulatory issues germane to the business operations of generic producers, formulators/distributors, and adjuvant/inert ingredient suppliers, respectively. The CPDA Board members emphasized that membership in the Council provides these companies “a seat at the table” in ensuring their interests are protected on policy matters impacting their operations. They encouraged member company representatives to devote their time and talent through participation on CPDA committee and work groups and to become “part of the solution.”
The CPDA Summer Conference & Annual Meeting speakers program also addressed an array of other important topics including challenges encountered in the inert ingredient approval process under FIFRA, issues surrounding the registration of agricultural adjuvants in the state of Washington, the latest on pending changes to product label warning requirements under California Prop 65, the legislative outlook for the reauthorization of PRIA and the Farm Bill, a discussion of how advancements in adjuvants are helping to mitigate such problems as pesticide drift and weed resistance, as well as other issues of critical importance to the agrotechnology industry.
CPDA Holds Annual Awards Banquet at the Summer Conference & Annual Meeting
On the evening of Tuesday, July 17th, conference attendees gathered at Chicago’s famed Signature Room on the 95th in the John Hancock Building for the annual CPDA Awards Banquet. This is an event held every year during which CPDA recognizes individuals in honor of an achievement, contribution or service provided to the Council or industry. The Awards Banquet is a celebration of the important accomplishments of these individuals that have led to the many important milestones in the agrotechnology industry that exist today. Presiding over this year’s ceremonies was Gary Groves, Solvay.

Among this year’s award recipients was Dr. Donald Penner from Michigan State University who was given the CPDA “Warren E. Stickle Lifetime Achievement Award.” The award highlighted Dr. Penner’s distinguished academic career, personal development of future weed scientists, patents and revolutionary industry contributions on the effect of adjuvants on the mechanism, and properties, fate and transport of herbicide formulations in the control of weeds.

The “Service to the Council Award” was bestowed upon Dr. Joe Gednalske, Winfield United, LLC, for his many contributions over the years in support of CPDA’s representation of manufacturers of spray tank adjuvants.
The “Outgoing Chairman Award” was presented to Dave Allen, Stepan Company, for his steadfast leadership, guidance and vision in transitioning the Council to a “new” and stronger CPDA.
Steve Solarski, AkzoNobel Surface Chemistry, LLC, was recipient of the “Service to the Board Award” for his many years of dedicated service as a member of the CPDA Board of Directors.
Please join us in congratulating this year’s CPDA awards honorees!
CPDA Chairmanship Changes Gavels at the Summer Conference & Annual Meeting

The conclusion of the 2018 CPDA Summer Conference & Annual Meeting Awards Banquet marked the passing of the gavel from Outgoing Chairman Dave Allen (Stepan Company) to Jim Reiss (Precision Laboratories, LLC).
The CPDA staff looks forward to working with Jim in his new role as Chairman over the coming year as we continue to advance the work of Dave Allen and other members of the Board of Directors in building a new and even more robust CPDA.
CPDA Thanks the Sponsors of the 2018 Summer Conference & Annual Meeting!
CPDA would like to extend its sincere thanks to the sponsors of the 2018 Summer Conference & Annual Meeting. Sponsorship plays a crucial role in enhancing the quality and value of CPDA meetings. Please join us in recognizing the following companies for their generosity in sponsoring this year’s summer meeting:
Diamond Level: Chemorse; Huntsman Performance Products
Gold Level: Adjuvants Unlimited, LLC; Albaugh, Inc.; Helena Agri-Enterprises; KALO; Precision Laboratories, LLC; and Stepan Company
Silver Level: Exacto Inc.; Rosen’s Inc.; and Stillmeadow, Inc.
Speaker Presentations
The speaker presentations from the 2018 CPDA Summer Conference & Annual Meeting may be accessed by clicking the links below.
“Introducing the New CPDA,” Gary Halvorson, CPDA
“Value of CPDA Membership – Producers,” Tim Stoehr, Albaugh Inc.
“CPDA Value to Distributors,” Tim Dlabaj, Helena Agri-Enterprises
“The Adjuvant and Inert Committee: Driven by Dynamic Change,” Scott Tann, Huntsman Performance Products
“Challenges in EPA’s Inert Ingredient Approval Process Under FIFRA,” Michael T. Novak, Keller and Heckman LLP
“Concepts for a Spray Quality Program: A Slight Paradigm Shift,” Greg Grant, Croda
“CPDA Certified ‘DRA’ Program Proposal,” Susan Sun, Croda
“WSDA Adjuvant Registration: Issues and Actions,” Gary Halvorson, CPDA and Lynn Georges, Brandt
“Volatile Organic Compound Update – California DPR Regulations,” Dave Lawson, Western Plant Health Association
“California Proposition 65 Update,” Dave Lawson, Western Plant Health Association
“Proposed Amendments to California’s Proposition 65 ‘Safe Harbor’ Warning Regulations,” Doreen L. Manchester, CropLife America
“CPDA Legislative Issues,” Don Davis, Esq., CPDA
“New Challenges for Tank Mix Adjuvants,” Joe Gednalske, Winfield United, LLC
“Sundry Studies Related to Weeds at WIU,” Mark Bernards, Western Illinois University
“Dicamba 2018: Hope Meets Reality,” Bryan Young, Purdue University